The Good News of St. John’s

No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted offers a realistic picture of all types of dementia and how to care for those living with its effects. The chances of us having someone close to us with a form of dementia is high because 5.8 million people in the US suffer from some form of dementia. Only decades ago, people were still writing off dementia-related behaviors to senility. Now, researchers have an ever-increasing understanding of the brain, which has allowed them to better diagnose different forms of dementia.As the community of St. John’s, we will not only discuss the content of the book, but we will also use this as an opportunity to take a look at pastoral care with the elderly and how we might respond to the growing need for care in Ulster County.

Zoom Discussion Dates:
Thursday, July 20 11:00-12:15
Thursday, Aug 3   11:00-12:15
Thursday, Aug 17 11:00-12:15

All sessions are over Zoom. You do not need to attend every session. Email Rev. Michelle to receive the Zoom link: michelle.stjohnskingston@gmail.com

__________________________________________

We continue reading the Gospel of Matthew. This week, we begin the Sermon on the Mount – chapters 5, 6, and 7. Sundays 8:30-9:30 in person or Wednesday 12:00-1:00 on Zoom.

Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering
Saturday, July 29: Eucharist begins at 11:00 am

Episcopalians from across the Hudson Valley region are invited to join our Bishop and Bishop Coadjutor for a special celebration and worship service on Saturday, July 29th at 11:00 am at Christ Episcopal Church, 20 Carroll Street, Poughkeepsie.

Bishop Andrew ML Dietsche will celebrate Holy Eucharist; Bishop Coadjutor Matthew Heyd will preach, and a regional choir, led by our own Ana Hernandez, will provide festive music. An outdoor picnic reception and conversation with the two bishops will follow.
You can sign up to:

• Sing in the regional choir (sign up)
• Bring a side dish or dessert (sign up)
• Help with setup or cleanup (sign up)

______________________________

Ordinary Time

Dear Ones,So teach us to number our days
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
– Psalm 90, verse 12

 

One of the things I love about the Anglican tradition, that is, the Episcopal Church, is that it helps us to mark time through the year by giving us liturgical seasons. And we are deep into the Season After Pentecost or, what we call, the long green season, after the meaningful revelations of Easter and Pentecost.

As Christians we call this Ordinary Time. And I think it’s easy to dismiss this time of year because we don’t have any feasts or holidays to celebrate anytime soon. But the truth is that Ordinary Time is, perhaps, more important than any feast day because it is the season during which the mystery of Christ moves closer and becomes more real for us.

It is in the everyday-ness of life that we are most capable of living into our faith. The decisions we make about how to spend our time and money, how to respond to the people in our lives, what to do about something that has been troubling us… this is human life. And we can choose to live this life without being aware of Christ. Or we can choose to give Christ space in our lives.

And this is when it happens. This is when we build new habits and re-form our neural nets. This is what Ordinary Time is about.

As you move through this summer season of long days, may you find your deep desire for God and may that inspire you to invite Christ closer. Every day.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

St. John’s Office Hours
Wednesdays 10:00-12:00 noon,
Thursdays 1:00-4:00 pm
Phone: 845-331-2252
Email: stjohnskingston@aol.comHave an announcement for the bulletin?
Please send by Wednesday at noon to stjohnskingston@aol.com.Summer Book Read: Join us over Zoom as we read through No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted by Thibault and Morgan, a non-fiction read that focuses on caring for people with dementia and is also a good reflection for all who provide pastoral care or are caretakers of friends or family.
When? Thursdays from 11:00-12:15 (July 20, Aug. 3, Aug. 17).
Email Rev. Michelle if you’re interested in attending!Bible Study: Come and join in Bible Study with Rev. Michelle on Sundays at 8:30 am (in person) or Wednesdays at 12:00 noon (via Zoom). We are studying the Gospel of Matthew and you can join the conversation any Sunday! Everyone is welcome to pick up a one-page overview of this Gospel on the bulletin board in the Vestibule. Email Rev. Michelle if you’d like to join the Wednesday Bible Study on Zoom.St. John’s Outreach Project – People’s Place: When you go to the store, pick up a few extra non-perishable food items for People’s Place food pantry (tuna, soup, pasta, sauce, etc.). We are also taking donations of birthday napkins/plates, candles, and gift bags in various sizes. Bring them to church and place them in the appropriate baskets near the Font.Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering On July 29, the Episcopal parishes of the Mid-Hudson will gather for a special Eucharist to continue the celebration of our newly consecrated Bishop Matt Heyd, who will preach that day. Plan to bring items for the potluck afterwards and/or come early at 9:45 to join the festival choir! Saturday, July 29 at 11:00 am at Christ Church, Poughkeepsie.

St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
July 20       Summer Book Read via Zoom, 11:00-12:15
July 29       Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie
Aug 3        Summer Book Read via Zoom, 11:00-12:15
Aug 17      Summer Book Read via Zoom, 11:00-12:15
Sept 17      Neighborhood Block Party SAVE THE DATE!

Join Holy Cross Brother Josep Martinez-Cubero for a daylong workshop on the fundamentals of singing – posture, breath, tone, and diction. All are welcome. No registration necessary. Saturday, July 8 from 9am-3pm at Ascension/Holy Trinity in West Park. $20 donation requested.

We continue reading the Gospel of Matthew! This week, we finish the birth narrative in chapters 1-2 and then move to chapter 4 to discuss the calling of the first disciples. Sundays 8:30-9:30 in person or Wednesday 12:00-1:00 on Zoom.

Christianity and Christian Nationalism

Dear Ones,

Politics is politics. There will always be one faction trying to gain leverage over another faction. This is a part of the human story, a part of the worldliness of our lives.

And… there are moments when politics ceases to be just about politics because those in power are stripping away the rights of citizens. These are the moments when the church cannot and should not remain silent.

The past two weeks, for the second year in a row, we have seen the justices of the Supreme Court do significant damage to the rights of people in this country. Last June, we watched in disbelief as the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and since then have witnessed extreme abortion laws be put into place in many US states putting women’s health in danger. This year in June, we found ourselves, once again, watching the Supreme Court make painfully bigoted rulings as they removed the requirement of affirmative action in college admissions and removed gay rights protection in business dealings.

These decisions demonstrate a marked movement in our elected officials – and now in those appointed to the Supreme Court – towards Christian Nationalism. And to be very clear, Christian Nationalism is NOT Christianity. It is a political ideology. It is the use of Christian symbols and rhetoric to enact a political agenda. The same thing happened about a century ago in Germany as the Nazi party rose to power.

Earlier this week, in response to the outrageous decisions of the Supreme Court, our new bishop, Matt Heyd, offered a brief video message alongside the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas. Please take the time to view it here. Bp. Matt is very clear: “The church cannot wait to be church… Being church is not about our doctrines and dogmas, our words and intention. But rather, being church is about our actions and commitments.”

Our actions and our commitments. What actions are we taking? What commitments are we making? This is exactly what Bp. Matt means when he says that “the world needs a Gospel that is bright, bold, and clear.”

I ask each one of you to pray on this – to engage in an active conversation with God about why God is calling you to be church (ekklesia, Greek for “those who are called out”). May we all come to clarity about our actions and commitments and live into our Baptismal Vows to be the church that this world so desperately needs.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

St. John’s Office Hours
Wednesdays 10:00-12:00 noon,
Thursdays 1:00-4:00 pm
Phone: 845-331-2252
Email: stjohnskingston@aol.com

Have an announcement for the bulletin?
Please send by Wednesday at noon to stjohnskingston@aol.com.

St. John’s Outreach Project – People’s Place: When you go to the store, pick up a few extra non-perishable food items for People’s Place food pantry (tuna, soup, pasta, sauce, etc.). We are also taking donations of birthday napkins/plates, candles, and gift bags in various sizes. Bring them to church and place them in the appropriate baskets near the Font.

Bible Study: Come and join in Bible Study with Rev. Michelle on Sundays at 8:30 am (in person) or Wednesdays at 12:00 noon (via Zoom). We are studying the Gospel of Matthew and you can join the conversation any Sunday! Everyone is welcome to pick up a one-page overview of this Gospel on the bulletin board in the Vestibule. Email Rev. Michelle if you’d like to join the Wednesday Bible Study on Zoom.

Page Turners Book Club Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., in the parish hall. Our next meeting after that will be September 7 when we will discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. No meetings in July or August. All are welcome! Interested? Talk with Lynn Dennison.

Mid-Hudson Gathering On July 29, the Episcopal parishes of the Mid-Hudson will gather for a special Eucharist to continue the celebration of our newly consecrated Bishop Matt Heyd, who will preach that day. Plan to bring items for the potluck afterwards and come early at 9:45 to join the festival choir! Saturday, July 29 at 11:00 am at Christ Church, Poughkeepsie.

St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
July 29:      Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie

Quarantining, but OK

Dear Ones,

I have tested positive for COVID but I’m OK. Here’s the story.

You may have heard my raspy voice last Sunday during worship as I was recovering from a bad cold. Of course, to be sure it was just a cold, I took 2 separate COVID tests last week that were both negative. So it was, in fact, just a bad cold and I was no longer contagious on Sunday when I led worship.

However, this past week I attended a conference (it was GREAT by the way and I’ll talk about it with you another day) and sat down next to someone for dinner on Sunday night. We had a really wonderful conversation. However, through the evening he started feeling feverish. The next morning, he tested positive for COVID.

Immediately, (because I’d had direct and sustained contact with him) I started masking, taking my meals by myself, and generally tried to sit apart. I also tested every day, even knowing that it would take a few days to incubate. Sure enough, Wednesday night I tested positive.

I came home and have been quarantining in our bedroom ever since, but I’ve had no symptoms. Just a few lingering coughs from my cold, which is normal for me. Still, CDC guidelines tell me that I have to remain quarantined for 5 days. This means, I will not be with you on Sunday, I’m sorry to say.

Thankfully, the Rev. Joe Campo is available and will be with you on Sunday. Many of you may remember him from last fall when he supplied for us one Sunday. Please be generous with your welcome and gratitude for jumping in at the last minute!

In the meantime, Ana caught my cold before I left for the conference so if you see her out and about, she does not have COVID (she’s been testing too, to be sure) but she may be coughing. Plus, this smoke makes it very hard on her asthma.

All this to say that… all is well over here at the Rectory. Ana has a cold. I have tested positive for COVID and am quarantining. But we’re all OK.

Have a wonderful holiday this week and I will see you all next week for:

• Bible Study via Zoom on Wednesday July 5 from 12-1
• Centering Prayer via Zoom on Wednesday July 5 at 5:30
• Singing as a Spiritual Practice at Ascension/Holy Trinity on Saturday July 9 from 9-3
• Sunday Worship at 10:00am in the Parish Hall on July 9

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

____________________________

Announcements for July 2
The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

 

NEXT WEEK: Summer Worship Begins

• We will still have 8:30 Bible Study in the Parish Hall. After we finish at 9:30, we will set up for worship. It’s not hard to do, especially if there are several of us working together.
• The choir does not meet. Instead, the entire congregation sings together during worship.
• We will have our Family area ready to go at all worship services. As always, all are welcome!

See you this week in the Sanctuary and next week in the Parish Hall!

_______________________________________________

The Brain and the Soul

Dear Ones,By now you’ve seen the recent invitation to join a book study group this summer on the book, No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted by Jane Marie Thibault and Richard Morgan. We’ll be doing this study via Zoom so that those who travel over the summer can participate as much as possible.

I’ve only just started to crack this book but I can already tell that it’s a powerful read, especially as Ana and I care for my mother who is struggling with vascular dementia. The authors are writing about the spirituality of caring for people with dementia and, therefore, what it means to the person who has dementia. I find that reading about dementia is usually overly biological or overly sentimentalized, but this is already a good middle ground.

The question that comes up right in the first chapter is one that acknowledges the difference between the brain and the soul. I realize that most of us know, at least theoretically, that the brain and the soul are 2 distinct parts of ourselves. But, in an experiential way, it’s harder to understand this. I think this is because memory is such a big influence on our identity that, if dementia removes this, it’s as if we start to see less of our loved one. And we no longer feel seen by them. And that is painfully difficult.

This disease is so painful and stigmatized that we usually hush away dementia, trying to cover it up either because it can be embarrassing when someone makes a faux-pas in public or because we just don’t feel equipped to handle the situation. And, if we are a caretaker, we soon learn that our day to day routines change dramatically.

Whether you care for a loved one with dementia or you are interested in learning more about how to help with the growing number of people in our society who are facing various forms of the disease, please be sure to email me directly by the end of the month so that you can join us in this summer Zoom discussion. The book is easy to purchase and, if you need a copy, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

St. John’s Office Hours
Wednesdays 10:00-12:00 noon,
Thursdays 1:00-4:00 pm
Phone: 845-331-2252
Email: stjohnskingston@aol.com

Have an announcement for the bulletin?
Please send by Wednesday at noon to stjohnskingston@aol.com.

THIS SUNDAY! Rector’s Forum on Liturgy As we look towards integrating another form of worship into our Sunday worship life, Rev. Michelle will lead us through a discussion about Eucharist and Morning Prayer – the differences and the similarities of these two forms. After worship.

NEXT WEEK! We begin our Summer Worship in the Parish Hall.

Summer Book Read: Join us for the St. John’s Summer Book Read. We will meet over Zoom so you don’t have to worry about missing a meeting due to travel! The book is No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted by Thibault and Morgan. It’s a non-fiction read that focuses on caring for people with dementia but is also a good reflection for all who provide pastoral care or are caretakers of friends or family. Please contact Rev. Michelle before June 30 if you intend on participating. We will announce discussion dates soon after.

Bible Study: Come and join in Bible Study with Rev. Michelle on Sundays at 8:30 am (in person) or Wednesdays at 12:00 noon (via Zoom). We are studying the Gospel of Matthew and you can join the conversation any Sunday! Everyone is welcome to pick up a one-page overview of this Gospel on the bulletin board in the Vestibule. Email Rev. Michelle if you’d like to join the Wednesday Bible Study on Zoom.

Page Turners Book Club Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., in the parish hall. Here’s what we selected for June 1,  These Precious Days by Anne Patchett. Our next meeting after that will be September 7 when we will discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. No meetings in July or August. All are welcome! Interested? Talk with Lynn Dennison.

St. John’s Outreach Project – People’s Place: When you go to the store, pick up a few extra non-perishable food items for People’s Place food pantry (tuna, soup, pasta, sauce, etc.). We are also taking donations of birthday napkins/plates, candles, and gift bags in various sizes. Bring them to church and place them in the appropriate baskets near the Font.

The Spiritual Practice of Singing: Join Holy Cross Brother Josep Martinez-Cubero for a daylong workshop on the fundamentals of singing – posture, breath, tone, and diction. All are welcome. No registration necessary. Saturday, July 8 from 9am-3pm at Ascension/Holy Trinity in West Park. $20 donation requested.

Save the Date! On July 29, the Episcopal parishes of the Mid-Hudson will gather for a special Eucharist to continue the celebration of our newly consecrated Bishop, Matt Heyd. Bp. Matt will preach that day and there will be other activities. Saturday, July 29 at 11:00 am at Christ Church, Poughkeepsie.

St. John’s Upcoming Schedule

June 25:     St. John’s Forum on Eucharist and Morning Prayer
July 2:        Summer Worship begins in the Parish Hall
July 9:        Spiritual Practice of Singing at Ascension/Holy Trinity, 9-3
July 29:      Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie

_____________________________________

Christian Saints: St. John the Baptist

St. John’s: Then… Up to Now

Dear Ones,We’ve been talking about a project for a few years now – learning more about the history of St. John’s. This project is a part of our journey towards Becoming Beloved Community.

Vestrymember Paula Wisneski is leading this project and she wants to gather other members of St. John’s who are curious enough to read through the stories in our archives. We have all kinds of records – letters, bulletins, vestry minutes, newspaper clippings. And, in order to have access to everything possible, this group will not only have my assistance, but the assistance of Wayne Kempton, the Archivist and Historiographer of the Diocese of New York.

Then, the members of this group will be asked to bring these stories to the larger congregation of St. John’s in two ways: First, we will install a timeline on paper in our Parish Hall and add events/stories to this timeline. People will be able to peruse these stories whenever they want. Second, we will have a regular feature in the Newsletter in which people will re-tell these stories and help us to make connections to the larger context. We know this isn’t a short-lived project, but will take the better part of a year to really dig into the archives and find the stories that matter.

Paula volunteered to take on this project because she knows how important it is for us to embark on a journey of truth-telling – learning about and telling the full story of our churches, especially including our story of race. Only then, are we really able to do the work of anti-racism.

And Paula has already found a pretty juicy story: According to the Vestry Minutes of a meeting in 1885, the Rector resigned his position because of what happened at a previous Vestry meeting. Now, Paula cannot yet locate the minutes of the previous meeting, but I wonder what happened! Don’t you?

Please speak directly with Paula by the end of June if you’d like to be a member of this team of St. John’s Historians.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

___________________________________

Announcements for June 18
The Third Sunday After Pentecost

______________________________________________________

St. John’s Vestry Notes

• The Vestry voted unanimously to:
  • elect Kathy Burdick as the Clerk of the Vestry. Kathy already serves as a member of Vestry.
  • appoint Keith Ferber to the open slot on Vestry. Keith already serves as Treasurer.
  • obtain a credit card, naming Keith Ferber (Treasurer) and Michelle Meech (Rector) as those authorized to use it.
• The Vestry discussed the following:
  • The new Rector schedule and the addition of Morning Prayer to the worship life of St. John’s.
  • Issues, concerns, and income from the Rental Program.
  • The proposed Events Schedule, discussion to-be-continued at the June meeting.
  • Scheduling a Mutual Ministry Review that will help to define ministerial responsibilities of Rev. Michelle, Officers, Vestry, and Staff. This is in response to the reduction in Rev. Michelle’s hours and responsibilities.

_____________________________________________

Living Into

Dear Ones,The Season After Pentecost is the longest liturgical season we have in the church year. From the Feast of Pentecost (this year, May 28) through the beginning of Advent (this year, Dec 3), this season spans late spring, all of summer, and most of the autumn. We see all sorts of changes during this liturgical season. And the color we use for all of this change is green. Green is, of course, the color of growth.

During this year’s Season After Pentecost, St. John’s is living into a change of pattern for our common life. Change is not always embraced, as we know. We are all designed to find patterns of life and behavior that suit us and keep us comfortable. Change can be stressful, which is perhaps the main reason we do our best to avoid it. But it’s an inherent aspect of growth, integral not only to our survival, but to our flourishing. We are called by God to discern how to mindfully move through the changes and chances of life so that we care for ourselves and care for one another.

Some of the ways St. John’s is changing: We are re-establishing Bible Study, we are growing our Family Ministries, we are creating new relationships with people and organizations through the regular rental of our facility, there are new faces at St. John’s nearly every week… and all of this asks us to be adaptable, open to possibility, and willing to actively engaged in the process of becoming. In other words, it all asks us to be willing to change.

A few weeks ago, I spoke about specific changes to my schedule as the Rector of St. John’s and to our worship life. This week, I want to let you know how the St. John’s leadership team is responding to the shift in how we accomplish the tasks that support our common life. There are 2 ways the leadership is addressing this:

1. The Staff and Officers of St. John’s will meet later this month to discuss how to develop new workflow patterns so that what we do relies less on the position of the Rector to act as coordinator.
2. Later this year, the Vestry will be asking the Rev. Allison Moore to come and perform a Mutual Ministry Review, a tool that will help us look at our patterns of leadership and prayerfully determine how to best live into a new way of leading St. John’s.

The Vestry is moving into a new “season” of leadership themselves. For the last 18 months, the Vestry has been in the process of making difficult and emotional decisions about the financial sustainability of St. John’s. They have been faithful to this task and have done excellent work. With the change in the Rector’s hours, this process comes to an end and the Vestry is now free to more fully lead other aspects of our common life – like stewardship, events, and mission.

I also hope you’ll note in the Vestry Notes (above) that the Vestry has voted Kathy Burdick in as the new Clerk of the Vestry and Keith Ferber into the open Vestry seat. Both now have dual responsibilities so please offer your thanks to both Kathy and Keith for their faith, commitment, and leadership.

• As Clerk, Kathy’s main tasks are administrative, making sure the Vestry is attending to its responsibilities to the larger church and tracking/communicating the business of the Vestry and congregation. Kathy is also serving as a Vestry Member, which is not required for the position of Clerk.
• Occasionally, the Vestry has an open seat either because someone has stepped down from their responsibilities or there were not enough candidates at the time of Vestry elections in January. When this happens, the Vesty is empowered to appoint someone into that seat for the remainder of the year until the next election. Keith is already functioning as Treasurer of St. John’s and now he is also a full member of Vestry with voice and vote.

Finally, I promise that not all of my missives to you this summer will be about this change (nor will they be as lengthy!). But I also know that clear communication during times of change is vitally important. My door remains open to you. And if you’d like to speak with anyone on the Vestry, please do. We all want this process to be as transparent as possible so that we can grow into this change together.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

St. John’s Office Hours
Wednesdays 10:00-12:00 noon,
Thursdays 1:00-4:00 pm
Phone: 845-331-2252
Email: stjohnskingston@aol.com

Have an announcement for the bulletin?
Please send by Wednesday at noon to stjohnskingston@aol.com.

THIS SUNDAY: Stay for a special Forum with the Rev. Richard Witt of Rural and Migrant Ministries to learn more about the work they do across the state of New York.

NEXT SUNDAY: Pastoral Care Meeting The Pastoral Care Team meets after worship on Sunday, June 18. All are welcome.

Summer Book Read: Join us for the St. John’s Summer Book Read. We will meet over Zoom so you don’t have to worry about missing a meeting due to travel! The book is No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted by Thibault and Morgan. It’s a non-fiction read that focuses on caring for people with dementia but is also a good reflection for all who provide pastoral care or are caretakers of friends or family. Discussion dates announced soon, in the meantime, go ahead and buy the book. Want to learn more? Talk to Lynn Dennison, Sue Bonsteel, or Rev. Michelle.

Bible Study: Come and join in Bible Study with Rev. Michelle. Beginning June 18, we will have two opportunities to join in a weekly Bible Study – Sundays at 8:30 am (in person) or Wednesdays at 12:00 noon (via Zoom). We begin our study with the Gospel of Matthew. Email Rev. Michelle to let her know your interest.

Grief Support Group: Hudson Valley Hospice comes to St. John’s for the summer to offer a Family Grief Support Group, Monday afternoons 2x a month, June 5 through Sept 25. Prior registration is required – call 845-240-7579 for more information and to register.

Page Turners Book Club Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., in the parish hall. Here’s what we selected for June 1,  These Precious Days by Anne Patchett. Our next meeting after that will be September 7 when we will discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. No meetings in July or August. All are welcome! Interested? Talk with Lynn Dennison.

St. John’s Outreach Project – People’s Place: When you go to the store, pick up a few extra non-perishable food items for People’s Place food pantry (tuna, soup, pasta, sauce, etc.). We are also taking donations of birthday napkins/plates, candles, and gift bags in various sizes. Bring them to church and place them in the appropriate baskets near the Font.

St. John’s Upcoming Schedule
June 9:       St. John’s Game Night! Begins at 6:00 pm
June 11:     Guest Preacher – The Rev. Richard Witt and Special Forum after worship about Rural and Migrant Ministries
June 17:     Ulster Deanery Meeting, 9-12:30 at Ascension in West Park
June 18:     Sunday Bible Study begins in person at 8:30 am, Godly Play for kids, Healing Sunday, Pastoral Care meeting after worship
June 21:     Wednesday Bible Study begins on Zoom at 12:00 noon
June 25:     Instructed Eucharist and Liturgical Forum
July 2:        Summer Worship begins in the Parish Hall
July 29:      Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie

________________________________________________

Friday, June 2: Gun Violence Awareness Event at 5:30 pm
St. John’s joins our neighbors at Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley and other members of the Kingston Interfaith Council in marking national Gun Violence Awareness Day. Park at St. John’s and join the gathering at CEHV for a vigil. Afterwards, we will return to St. John’s to create an installation on our front lawn. If you’d like to help with materials, contact Deacon Sue Bonsteel. #wearorange

June 4:       All Ages Worship – The Creation Story
First Sunday is always All Ages Worship and this month we will be telling the Creation Story from Genesis so be ready to participate!

June 9:       St. John’s Game Night! Begins at 6:00 pm
Our beloved Game Night returns! Bring your favorite game and your favorite “Friday-night-food.” And bring a friend! Contact Sara Hutton if you have questions or would like to help: shutton324@gmail.com

June 11:     Guest Preacher – The Rev. Richard Witt of Rural and Migrant Ministries
Richard is the Executive Director of Rural and Migrant Ministries, traveling all across the state to advocate for and support migrant farmworkers and their families. After worship, stay for a special forum to learn more about the work of RMM. All monies given in the plate that day (that are not identified as pledges) will be given to RMM.

June 17:     Ulster Deanery Meeting, 9-12:30
The Episcopal congregations in Ulster County all meet regularly for learning, support and to plan events. If you’re interested in joining the St. John’s contingent, talk with Rev. Michelle.

June 18:     Sunday Bible Study begins in person at 8:30 am, Godly Play for kids, Healing Sunday, Pastoral Care meeting, after worship
It’s a busy Sunday at St. John’s, including a special Father’s Day prayer. Be sure to join us!

June 21:     Wednesday Bible Study begins on Zoom at 12:00 noon
Join us for weekly Bible Study – Wednesdays at 12 noon via Zoom or Sundays at 8:30 am in person.

June 25:     Instructed Eucharist and Worship Forum
Join Rev. Michelle for a special learning opportunity. Our regular Sunday worship will be an “instructed Eucharist.” So, if you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the symbols and actions in our Eucharist, this is your chance. Then, after worship, she will offer a forum on the differences between Eucharist and Morning Prayer. This will be an opportunity for us all to begin learning and re-learning this form of prayer as we incorporate it into our regular worship pattern at St. John’s.

July 2:        Summer Worship begins in the Parish Hall
Every summer, we take advantage of the air-conditioning and move our worship to the Parish Hall. We will gather for worship this way until September 10.

July 15:      Mid-Hudson Regional Gathering at Christ Church in Poughkeepsie
Our newest bishop, the Rt. Rev. Matt Heyd, will join this special gathering of the Mid-Hudson congregations for Eucharistic worship, potluck reception, and a conversation with the bishops. More information coming.

_______________________________________

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Dear Ones,

If you’ve never walked through our beautiful Memorial Garden, you really need to do so soon. Late May through June is the perfect time of year to experience the garden in all its glory. It’s not only St. John’s members who benefit from this outdoor sanctuary, I see people sitting in this peaceful space all the time. It’s a lovely ministry for our neighborhood.

Of course, the caretaking of any garden doesn’t happen by itself. I remember when I got here over 7years ago, the front end of the garden was just as beautiful as it is now – lush greenery surrounding the St. Francis fountain, inviting all to take a seat and relax. But the back end of the garden was another story. Weeds had taken over the pergola area and the paint was chipped in several places. It’s was very uninviting.

Today, the welcoming beauty of the entire Memorial Garden is sustained by the efforts of many people.

The Columbarium Board (Lynn Dennison, George Mine, and Sarah Corrigan) oversee the entire space and ensures that the maintenance of all the greenery occurs – trees, bushes, and lawn. In addition, of course, they oversee the Columbarium itself, where many members of St. John’s have found their final resting place. Right now, the Board is looking to replace the front gate of the Memorial Garden, which has aged due to time and weather. If you’d like to make a contribution, to this effort, please speak directly with either Lynn or George.

And, as many of us know, the pergola area of the Memorial Garden has been cared for by our own Director of Music, Terry Earles, for the past four years. Terry has experimented with various plantings and added some new features to deepen the peaceful beauty we can now all find there. He also raises money for his plantings so if you would like to contribute, please speak with him.

If you would like to join any of the gardeners in this ministry of care and beauty, please do speak with them. But I hope you will take the time to thank them. They all give so much for so many.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

St. John’s Office Hours
Wednesdays 10:00-12:00 noon, Thursdays 1:00-4:00 pm
Phone: 845-331-2252
Email: stjohnskingston@aol.com

Have an announcement for the bulletin?
Please send by Wednesday at noon to stjohnskingston@aol.com.

Gun Violence Awareness Day Event: On Friday, June 2 at 5:30. Join members of St. John’s and Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley for an event in support of the National Gun Violence Awareness Day, sponsored Everytown for Gun Safety, Sandy Hook Promise, and others.

St. John’s Game Night is back! Our beloved Game Night returns on Friday, June 9 at 6:00 pm. Bring your favorite game and your favorite “Friday-night-food.” And bring a friend! Contact Sara Hutton if you have questions or would like to help: shutton324@gmail.com

Summer Book Read: Join us for the St. John’s Summer Book Read. We will meet over Zoom so you don’t have to worry about missing a meeting due to travel! The book is No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted by Thibault and Morgan. It’s a non-fiction read that focuses on caring for people with dementia but is also a good reflection for all who provide pastoral care or are caretakers of friends or family. Discussion dates announced soon, in the meantime, go ahead and buy the book. Want to learn more? Talk to Lynn Dennison, Sue Bonsteel, or Rev. Michelle.

Bible Study: Come and join in Bible Study with Rev. Michelle. Beginning June 18, we will have two opportunities to join in a weekly Bible Study – Sundays at 8:30 am (in person) or Wednesdays at 12:00 noon (via Zoom). We begin our study with the Gospel of Matthew.
Email Rev. Michelle if you’d like to join either group.

Grief Support Group: Hudson Valley Hospice comes to St. John’s for the summer to offer a Family Grief Support Group, Monday afternoons 2x a month, June 5 through Sept 25. Prior registration is required – call 845-240-7579 for more information and to register.

Page Turners Book Club Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., in the parish hall. Here’s what we selected for June 1,  These Precious Days by Anne Patchett. Our next meeting after that will be September 7 when we will discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. No meetings in July or August. All are welcome! Interested? Talk with Lynn Dennison.

St. John’s Outreach Project – People’s Place: When you go to the store, pick up a few extra non-perishable food items for People’s Place food pantry (tuna, soup, pasta, sauce, etc.). We are also taking donations of birthday napkins/plates, candles, and gift bags in various sizes. Bring them to church and place them in the appropriate baskets near the Font.

This Saturday, May 20 the Diocese of New York consecrates Matthew Foster Heyd as Bishop Coadjutor at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. If you are not coming to be in person, you can still join the celebration online through the cathedral’s youtube page.The procession begins at 10:15 am on youtube.com/@CathedralSaintJohn

Paula Wisneski and Roger Bonsteel will process with the St. John’s banner. Paula and Roger will then sit with other members from St. John’s – Sue Bonsteel, Kathy Burdick, Claudette Ford, Rebekah Hendricks, Ana Hernandez, Don Hughes, Liz Moeller, and Nilsa Rodriguez-Jaca. Finally, Rev. Michelle will be processing and sitting with the Committee to Elect a Bishop.

Afterwards, there is a reception outside on the Cathedral Green where Liz will host an activities tent for the kids.

We’ll take plenty of pictures and share them on Instagram and Facebook and here in next week’s Good News from St. John’s.

Let’s all keep Matt and his family in our prayers as they make this transition into his new ministry.

You can learn more here and also watch a video of Matt talking to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

____________________________________________________________

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Dear Ones,
I hope you recognize the title of this comes from David Bowie’s iconic song, “Changes”.

As the Vestry and I have been communicating to you all, there are changes to the Rector’s salary and schedule occurring this year. In April, the Vestry voted to reduce the hours of the Rector to 60% beginning June 1. This comes in response to the need to move into more sustainable financial practices, a situation that is facing all denominations across the country. We are not alone. And I want to be very clear that this decision is one that I have supported at every step. I agree with the decision of the Vestry.

There are 2 changes I am announcing here – my schedule and a shift in our worship. In addition to more lay leadership of events, committees, and other ministries, these will be the most significant changes for us to move through as a congregation as we live into this new arrangement.

Rev. Michelle’s Schedule as of June 1
Sundays: I will be with you for every Sunday service, except for the Sundays that I am off. I have been given more Sundays off with this change.
Mondays: I am unavailable, except for our monthly Vestry meetings.
Tuesdays: I am unavailable.
Wednesdays: I am unavailable, except to lead our online Centering Prayer.
Thursdays: I am available all day and will have office hours for part of the day in the church building, should you wish to stop by or need to access the office. More details coming.
Fridays: I am available all day.
Saturdays: I am available but will spend the better part of the day writing the sermon and preparing for Sunday.

With the rest of my time, I will be doing some work for the Diocese of New York as well as leading more retreats to supplement my income. Of course, I will be with you all for regular liturgical events regardless of when they fall during the week – Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Christmas, etc. And should there be a pastoral emergency, I will be there.

The officers and I will review this schedule in September.

Shift in Worship
One of the ways in which we are looking to reduce costs is to be strategic about how much we spend on supply priests on the Sundays when I am not with you. Because the Episcopal Church requires that sacraments be presided over by ordained priests or bishops, we need to re-think our worship pattern, if we want to spend less on supply priests.

About 50 years ago, Eucharist was not offered every Sunday in the Episcopal Church. Instead, we worshipped together in a service called Morning Prayer. Morning Prayer can be led by anyone in the church – ordained leaders or lay leaders. And we have several lay leaders at St. John’s who are offering to expand their ministry: Leah Siuta, Wes Dangler, and Lynn Dennison.

This summer, St. John’s will begin a practice of having Morning Prayer on the “5th Sundays.” By that, I mean that in any month where there are 5 Sundays, we will have Morning Prayer instead of Eucharist on that last Sunday. Even if I’m here, I will officiate over Morning Prayer on the 5th Sundays.

We hope to incorporate the beauty of this liturgical form into our common worship life so that, when Leah, Wes, or Lynn are called upon to lead Morning Prayer, everyone at St. John’s feel more comfortable with and prepared for worshipping through this form.

Before we begin this new worship pattern, I will offer a forum and other forms of teaching to help us all with the shift. For those of you with a Book of Common Prayer, you can get started by taking a look at the form beginning on page 75.

Finally, I ask for your grace and understanding as we all move into this new arrangement of congregational life. Having said that, I can understand if you feel angry or upset about this. These are common emotions when it comes to changes. So please do reach out to me with any questions or concerns. I am here and my door is open.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle

________________________________

Announcements for May 21
The Feast of the Ascension

As Episcopalians, scripture has a central place in our worship and is foundational to our Christian faith. As such, we are called to take the reading of scripture seriously, to open it up and explore its meaning. A Weekly Bible Study is an opportunity to interrogate scripture alongside others while developing relationships and community. What can we learn from scripture for our lives today?

If you are interested, please take this survey to let Rev. Michelle know when you are able to attend. Fill out this electronic form OR use the paper form found in your Sunday worship bulletin. Make sure they are turned in by Sunday, May 21.

__________________________________________________________

The St. John’s Memorials Account

St. John’s Office Hours
Mondays from 12:00-4:00 pm and Wednesdays from 10:00-12:00 noon
Phone: 845-331-2252    Email: stjohnskingston@aol.com

Have an announcement for the bulletin? Please send by Wednesday at noon to stjohnskingston@aol.com.

Join the thousands of Episcopalians who are committing themselves and their households to sustainable living. Go to: sustainislandhome.org

Page Turners Book Club Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., in the parish hall. Here’s what we selected for June 1: These Precious Days by Anne Patchett. Our next meeting after that will be September 7 when we will discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. No meetings in July or August. All are welcome! Interested? Talk with Lynn Dennison.

St. John’s Outreach Project – People’s Place: When you go to the store, pick up a few extra non-perishable food items for People’s Place food pantry (tuna, soup, pasta, sauce, etc.). We are also taking donations of birthday napkins/plates, candles, and gift bags in various sizes. Bring them to church and place them in the appropriate baskets near the font.

NEXT WEEK: Our Final Inquirer’s Class! From 1:00-3:30 in the Rectory
What We Do: Ministry and the Baptismal Covenant As Christians, we believe in an incarnate God – the Christ – who came to teach us that all the law and the prophets point to Love. And that this love isn’t something we feel, it’s something we do. Jesus’ two commandments of: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself aren’t about warm fuzzies and “thoughts and prayers.” These commandments must guide our participation in this incarnate reality. As we deepen our journey with Christ and our faith matures, we learn how to become ministers in the world. Our Baptismal Covenant is the place we return to in order to remind ourselves of God’s dream for all of us.

Interested in Baptism? In the Episcopal Church, we offer the Sacrament of Baptism on the Feast of Pentecost (this year, on May 28). If you are interested in Baptism or interested in having your child baptized, talk to Rev. Michelle as soon as possible to set up a time to talk more about it. The next time set aside for Baptism will be All Saints Sunday on November 5.

St. John’s Upcoming Schedule

May 20:     Consecration of Matthew Heyd as Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of New York, Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in NYC.
May 21:     Godly Play for kids, Healing Sunday, Inquirer’s Class – What We Do: Ministry and the Baptismal Covenant, from 1:00-3:30 pm in the Rectory.
May 28:     Feast of Pentecost and Renewal of Baptismal Vows
June 4:       All Ages Worship – The Creation Story
June 11:     Guest Preacher – The Rev. Richard Witt of Rural and Migrant Ministries, Special Forum after worship about Rural and Migrant Ministries
June 18:     Godly Play for kids, Healing Sunday, Pastoral Care meeting after worship
June 25:     Rector’s Forum: Celtic Christianity, after worship
July 2:        Summer Worship begins in the Parish Hall

As Episcopalians, scripture has a central place in our worship and is foundational to our Christian faith. As such, we are called to take the reading of scripture seriously, to open it up and explore its meaning. A Weekly Bible Study is an opportunity to interrogate scripture alongside others while developing relationships and community. What can we learn from scripture for our lives today?

If you are interested, please take this survey to let Rev. Michelle know when you are able to attend. Fill out this electronic form OR use the paper form found in your Sunday worship bulletin. Make sure they are turned in by Sunday, May 21.

____________________________________________

The St. John’s Memorials Account

________________________________________________

In the Rectory Garden

Dear Ones,Ana and I were married nearly 5 years ago and ever since then, I have been deepening my love for gardening and becoming, dare I say it, an avid gardener. This is not something I was prepared for because, when I was younger, I never found it very interesting. But something clicked that first winter we were married, I just wanted to grow things.

We started small. We bought a bed, a bunch of soil, and a bunch of common and really odd herbs to plant in that soil. Easy enough. Then, we started clearing out all the beds around the Rectory that I had let overgrow. And that felt good. Again, easy enough. Until I got to the poison ivy. I spent the entire month of June sitting in colloidal oatmeal baths, covering myself in calamine lotion, and taking steroids. I now know what poison ivy looks like and how to get rid of it properly.

The next year, we expanded our garden, planting seeds indoors and transplanting them outdoors in mid-May. We learned a lot about letting tomato plants get out of hand, what cabbage worms are, the vertical leaping abilities of rabbits, and why squash should be grown vertically.

I suppose the larger story in all of this isn’t one of great insight, it’s just the simple truth that this is how life goes. You can never predict exactly how the whole endeavor will end up and, after all of the failures and injuries and misadventures, there are so many beautiful moments. Ana and I still dance around the room (literally) when a new sprout arises from the soil. I still can’t wait to share the first pod of peas with Ana in the middle of the garden. I still savor the first tomato sandwich made from the tomatoes in the garden. And Ana still loves to find things to do with everything we harvest.

I try to post as many things as possible on Instagram and Facebook as we move through the spring and summer months. And I invite you to join us in our misadventures and our joy this year.

In God’s love and mine,
Rev. Michelle